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Sitting on a log; in front of me the sea, around me thousands of trees and not a single soul in sight. Where am I? A million similar places can come to mind: from the hidden beaches of Brazil, through the forests of Eastern Europe, all the way to Australia’s coastline. Tranquility is associated with all of these places but not with this one. This is not a hidden paradise; this is Istanbul! Ah, Istanbul, the capital of Empires and the home of more than 16 million people. Yes, this seen is not something you would associate with this jewel. One imagines Istanbul as chaotic, hustle and bustle at every corner right next to what’s left of thousands of years of history. Pushing one’s way through the crowd, crossing the continent’s daily and being stuck in traffic for hours in order to go to the other side of the city. Indeed, all of these things are part of everyday life for the people of Istanbul. This is the reason I’m here. Hustle, bustle & history; the things that make Istanbul what it is. Peter Gyllius said “all other cities are doomed, but I imagine that as long as people exist, Constantinople will exist”. Five centuries since he uttered these words, the city is still standing and still as remarkable as it was back then. You can find anything and everything here. Things you expected like castles, centuries old mosques and everything you could ever need at the Bazaar. Things which you didn’t expect like streets filled with colorful buildings and cafes which rival those of Europe a few minutes away from conservative religious neighborhoods which will make you feel like you are in Saudi Arabia or Iran. And then there are places like this one where I am sitting which you couldn’t even imagine exist in this city – the Princes’ Islands. A cluster of nine islands of the coast of Istanbul which seem surreal. Just a small town, a street which goes around the island, houses on both sides, the sea and the forest. Air as fresh as a mountain breeze without a single car in sight. Water clear and blue like the Mediterranean sky. And yet less than an hour to get to the heart of Istanbul. Tranquility and peace so close to the chaos that is Istanbul; a hidden gem one never expected to find.